Geagea in Open Letter to Suleiman: We're Willing to Return to Parliament to Tackle Fair Electoral Law

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized on Thursday President Michel Suleiman's recent remarks on the national dialogue and the March 14 camp's boycott of government-related activity, saying that the alliance had long demanded “serious and constructive” dialogue that “does not cancel agreements reached during previous sessions.”

He announced in an open letter to the president: “We are willing to return to parliament to discuss a fair electoral parliamentary electoral law once the speaker issues a call for a session aimed solely for this purpose.”

“The camp that has most valued dialogue is the one that has suffered the most from assassinations,” he added.

“It is true that we regret not being able to attend the all-party talks, but the other members of the dialogue table, who are not only obstructing the decisions of the talks, but attempting to eliminate its other participants, are preventing us from complying with your invitation,” Geagea said to Suleiman.

“After 25 assassinations and failed attempts, the dialogue table has almost been emptied of its March 14 opposition representatives,” he remarked.

“The March 14 camp has long sought to return to the table of dialogue that does not include a gun pointed to its head,” stated the LF leader.

“Our boycott of dialogue is directed against the powers that are employing the talks to practice intimidation and security and political blackmail,” he stressed.

“The other camp is using the dialogue to impose its illegitimate arms in order to achieve political gains that it failed to obtain through intimidation and assassinations,” he remarked.

On Suleiman's statements that the national dialogue had produced the Baabda Declaration and discussions on a defense strategy, Geagea said: “The Declaration is an interpretation of the March 14 camp and the president's principles only and not of other members of the all-party talks.”

The Declaration is being violated on a daily basis by the other camp starting with the failed attempt on the life of opposition MP Butros Harb, the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan, among other incidents, he continued.

“As for the defense strategy, Hizbullah has so far refrained from presenting its proposals on the matter after some 42 dialogue sessions and 150 hours of talks,” he noted.

“We renew our commitment to real national dialogue, while rejecting intimidation, blackmail, and political deception,” said Geagea.

“Isn't it shameful that the deception continue through the staging of the dialogue, which is being employed as a photo opportunity by the participants in between various security incidents,” he stated.

On Suleiman's remarks that those boycotting the dialogue should present alternatives to it, the LF leader said: “Such a statement places the killers and the victims in the same boat.”

“The only alternative to dialogue should be the constitution and not the covering up of chaos and murder practiced by the other camp in an attempt to drag us to forced dialogue that is tailored to its political and regional agendas,” he said.

“The alternative should simply be uncovering the wrongs being committed and restoring the functioning of state institutions,” he proposed.

“The alternative lies in the resignation of the current government and the formation of a new one capable of overseeing the 2013 parliamentary elections,” he stressed.

Suleiman had made his remarks on Tuesday after holding talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

The president had criticized the boycott of the national dialogue, hoping that all political powers would attend the session set for January 7.

Suleiman said: “I do not understand the link between boycotting dialogue and the demand to topple the government.”

He noted that the dialogue had made achievements in the past, the last of which was the announcement of the Baabda Declaration in June.

“I urge the parties to return to dialogue and if they refuse, then they should offer alternatives,” suggested Suleiman.

“As far as I know, no one wants to eliminate the dialogue, but the boycott is creating instability,” he added.

Timeline

27 December 2012, 13:46

Geagea: We are willing to return to parliament to discuss a new law once the speaker calls it to a session dedicated solely to addressing this issue.

27 December 2012, 13:46

Geagea: We were the first to offer an alternative to the 1960s law.

27 December 2012, 13:45

Geagea: Our insistence to hold the parliamentary elections on time is equal to our desire to reach an electoral law besides that of the 1960s one.

27 December 2012, 13:44

Geagea rejected claims of a political vacuum in Lebanon: The formation of a new government is key to ending the deadlock.

27 December 2012, 13:43

Geagea: Is it acceptable that we return to the dialogue people with the same people who are linked to the various assassinations and security incidents in Lebanon.

27 December 2012, 13:42

Geagea: Suleiman's statements that those rejecting dialogue should offer alternatives places the killers and the victims in the same corner.

27 December 2012, 13:41

Geagea: The March 14 camp's decision over the national dialogue is a reaction to the current reality in Lebanon.

27 December 2012, 13:40

Geagea: Isn't shameful that the public's feelings be manipulated for the sake of a number of photo opportunities at the national dialogue?

27 December 2012, 13:40

Geagea: We renew our commitment to real national dialogue and we refuse to be subject to blackmail.

27 December 2012, 13:38

Geagea: Dialogue for the March 8 camp is being used as a cover for it to achieve its interests by force.

27 December 2012, 13:38

Geagea: 19 national dialogue sessions, held between 2006 and 2007, failed in thwarting the events of May 7, 2008 and a number of other security incidents. The Doha Accord failed in achieving stability, but the March 8 camp's achievement of a blocking minority created stability.

27 December 2012, 13:37

Geagea: We are seeking dialogue that does not include a gun pointed at the March 14 camp.

27 December 2012, 13:36

LF leader Samir Geagea in open letter to President Suleiman: Your statements after meeting Patriarch al-Rahi stems from your goal to achieve Lebanon's best interests.

well, that is what you can say come and try ... what if one day they will come and try ? you think that those 50.000 midium ranged missiles you have will be useful in a street fight ? do you think that you ll kill all of your opponents without shedding one drop of blood ? stop that crack "mo" and wake up , you want to build a country ? you begin by being a citizen like all the others , without weapons and under the law , until that day think about what i told you !

Dont worry theresistance, you are still in the abyss and dragging the whole country with you ... if real men are measured in raping/killing/drug dealing/stealing others proprieties then you are the kings of Men ;)

the simple truth.
and the replies from m8 started to come, heinous as usual, full of threats.
wiam wahab said it yesterday clearly: a clear threat.
m8, you have one of 2 choices:
- act as Lebanese and disarm, or
- civil war, which you are advocating clearly these days.
your decision will decide the path Lebanon will take.
but do not think for a second that Lebanon will be an Iranian satellite.

As the Syrian civil war starts to come to a close, cadres of fighters will suddenly have nothing to do except to solidify what they will have wrought in Syria. I do not see a neat transition from the Assad Regime to the post-Assad era in Syria mainly because the Assad Regime was never a legitimate government, but was a family operated mafia operation masquarading about as a legitimate government. Forty years of lies, murder and theft have now started to be compensated for by those who suffered oppression. Will they stop with retribution against the Alawi of Syria? Who knows, but the reckless adventurism of Hezbollah in sending in fighters to assist the Assad's will not be an action that does not bear a consequence.

Geagea tells it like it is! He has character and he stands true to his principles and convictions. He has been wiping the floor with all his plolitical opponents lately and they have no answer to him. There will fo sure be another assasination attempt against him. Lets all hope for the sake of Lebanon that he gets past it because Lebanon really needs him right now.

We need a new breed of politicians, and the reason why no electoral law is being adopted is because all of these major parties that you blind followers adore would suffer from a law that truly represents the Lebanese people, not sects.

He mentions how many national dialogue we've had since 2006, and that says a very good point. But the important point is not the one he is trying to emphasize, it is the fact that we've been talking about the same thing since 2006 as if that is the only issue facing the Lebanese people. When you wake up and realize that we have other more important issues, Lebanon will progress.

you cant have prosperity without security , look at what happened since 2005 .... you want to build a country you begin by organizing the society, how ? by putting laws and force everyone to abide by those laws, how ? by having 1 army, 1 ISF on all the soil of the country ... like that you can have security , but if everyone wants to be the outlaw and the sheriff you will have a farm ! Stop your crap, and admit that the weapons are a major problem in this country and nothing good will happen until those weapons are handed to the army ! and if you still beleive the opposite let every one then have weapons and create a "devine" cause and go liberate some land somewhere !

My compatriots of March 14, the president apparently has a lot of free time at hand to waste on letters by an uneducated Dr. Falso who knows not where God placed him. I am sure the president will waste little time deciphering nonsense.

jeajea is right on one point that a society cannot have security with arms arround
right jeajea but
there are are 2 things the destroy a country
weapons
and
money
we should stop weapons dictating us a fate and we should stop money dictating us a fate
weapons kills you once but money kills you a thousand times a day
god bless lebanon